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Daniel Castillo, Ct'd...
This afternoon I spoke with Rick Dovalina, director of the Houston chapter of the Hispanic advocacy group LULAC, and who has served as spokesman for the Castillo family the last few days. According to Dovalina, police say they found what appear to be stems and seeds of marijuana, either in the Castillo home or in the yard behind it. Contrary to earlier reports, the victim's father, Daniel Castillo, Sr. was not arrested or charged with a crime.
Police did arrest a man in a white pick-up truck outside the house. The man was apparently dating one of the victim's sisters, and police claim they found crack cocaine in the vehicle.
Dovalina says Daniel Castillo, Jr. was unarmed, had no criminal record, and according to his father, was not involved in the drug trade. The police affidavit for the search warrant claims an unidentified informant saw crack being sold from the house. It names "David Castillo" as a possible suspect, then later, "Daniel Castillo." That tip and police observations of "traffic" at the Castillo home formed the basis of the forced-entry SWAT raid. No one but the police knows the identity of the informant.
According to his sister, Castillo was shot just below the eye as he rose up from his bed after hearing her scream. She was holding a 1-year-old child just a few feet from the shooting.
The police have still refused to comment. Dovalina and the Castillo family held a press conference today at noon Houston time. I wasn't able to watch it from D.C. I'm hoping to chat with Dovalina later this evening to get more information, and perhaps obtain a copy of the warrant and affidavit.
VM|2.16.07 @ 2:18PM|#
Thank you, Radley for staying on top of these abuses of
power.
In appreciation,
VM
|2.16.07 @ 2:24PM|#
It is an interesting sidenote whether or not the kid was dealing
drugs, but it is really irrelevant. Last I checked selling crack
doesn't give the police the right to shoot you. Moreover, even a
valid search warrent that results in the seizure of drugs doesn't
give the police the right to shoot anyone in the house. While I
aplaud your efforts to dig on this case, Radley, it really doesn't
matter not should it matter if this kid was selling drugs or not.
The question is, was he armed and was there any reason for the
police to shoot him.
I suspect if there was, we would have heard about it by now. For
example, people knew immediately that the woman in Atlanta had a
gun and had shot at the police. If this kid had had a gun or
anything that could be mistaken for a gun, the police would have
put that information out immediately. The longer this goes on, the
more likely it is that some trigger happy under trained cop
overreacted and shot the kid. It is just horrible. I don't care if
he was America's biggest crack dealer.
Radley Balko|2.16.07 @ 2:32PM|#
John,
I agree. And I hesitate to post anything about what drugs were or
weren't found, precisely for the reasons you give -- it isn't
relevant, and distracts from the real issue, which is that an
unarmed kid was shot in the face (although if there were no drugs
in the house, it does make the raid all the more egregious).
But I figure it's better to disclose as much as possible early, so
if it does come out that the kid was somehow involved in the drug
trade, critics can't claim that information was being intentionally
omitted.
dhex|2.16.07 @ 2:34PM|#
keep it up, mr. balko.
i hope the family is able to spin this into something bigger, or at
least get some criminal charges filed against the people who
murdered their son.
Dave W.|2.16.07 @ 2:35PM|#
Interesting developments in the Peyton Strickland case:
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/543752.html
|2.16.07 @ 2:37PM|#
"But I figure it's better to disclose as much as possible early,
so if it does come out that the kid was somehow involved in the
drug trade, critics can't claim that information was being
intentionally omitted."
Good point, although I really don't get the mentality that would
think that it is somehow okay for the police to shoot an unarmed
person as long as they had guessed right and the person had
drugs.
Bob|2.16.07 @ 2:43PM|#
Good point, although I really don't get the mentality that
would think that it is somehow okay for the police to shoot an
unarmed person as long as they had guessed right and the person had
drugs.
They can shoot someone if in commission of a violent crime like
drug possession.
Bob|2.16.07 @ 2:46PM|#
It is an interesting sidenote whether or not the kid was
dealing drugs
If he was then it is entirely justified, one less criminal out
there.
|2.16.07 @ 2:47PM|#
Possession is vilolent crime? Against who?
I realize that Bob is nothing more than a common troll, but is that
a pervasive opinion...that even the mere possession of drugs makes
a person more inclined to be violent?
Nick
Bob|2.16.07 @ 2:50PM|#
I am sorry for the family, but they did find seeds, this just
shows how unhealthy drugs are, they can kill you.
that even the mere possession of drugs makes a person more
inclined to be violent?
Using them makes people violent, only alcohol is acceptable because
it has a long history of safe use in western society.
|2.16.07 @ 2:52PM|#
This sucks. This guy was killed for no apparent reason. He had
his whole life ahead of him. Now a father has to bury his
child.
There's no way for a nation with a strong respect for civil
liberties and the rule of law to remain true to its core values if
crimes like these are routinely committed by the police.
I miss the old America, the one with robust civil liberties and,
consequently, a healthy respect for the rule of
law.
Where do I write to get my country back?
To whom does Mr. Castillo complain to get his son back?
Timothy|2.16.07 @ 2:54PM|#
Jesus fuck, Bob, you're the least creative troll this week. You're like Dan T's mongoloid little brother, no...that's too insulting to mongoloids, you're more like his paint-huffing younger brother.
|2.16.07 @ 2:54PM|#
Bob
If you are trolling, it's tasteless. #### off.
If you are not trolling, it's tasteless.
#### off.
|2.16.07 @ 2:59PM|#
Some kid was shot in the face, for what appears to be no good
reason. Balko is leading the charge right now documenting these
abuses and getting justice for the victims & families.
Then 'Bob' comes in and decides it'll be fun to crap all over a
serious thread. Nice.
But it doesn't really matter, right 'Bob'? Just one more dead male
spic. Who cares.
Go back to GBS, 'Bob'.
Warren|2.16.07 @ 3:00PM|#
Keep beating the drums Radley.
Everything they said about alcohol, is actually true about
speed heroin coke
crack meth prohibition.
Warren|2.16.07 @ 3:03PM|#
Bob's not torlling, he's being sarcastic. Judging from the response, pretty effective I'd say.
thinking out loud|2.16.07 @ 3:07PM|#
People in bear country put a carpet of nails on the ramps to their cabins to keep hungry grizzlies from barging in. I think one of those, strategically placed just inside the door...
|2.16.07 @ 3:09PM|#
Good point, although I really don't get the mentality that would think that it is somehow okay for the police to shoot an unarmed person as long as they had guessed right and the person had drugs.
I don't get it either, but it seems to very prevalent on the
socially-conservative "right-wing" side of the house.
From a recent John Hawkins article:
That's why once, way back when William Bennett was the drug czar, he responded like so to a caller on the Larry King show who told him that he should "behead the damn drug dealers."
"I mean what the caller suggests is morally plausible," he said. "Legally, it's difficult."
Bennett was right then, he's right now...
|2.16.07 @ 3:17PM|#
I am sorry for the family, but they did find seeds, this
just shows how unhealthy drugs are, they can kill you.
Exactly. Just as we've been saying, another marijuana-related
death.
LatexSolarBeef|2.16.07 @ 3:21PM|#
what's the drive for forced entry of the drug raid sort?
to preserve evidence?
reminds me of prison
where high profile shakedowns of suspicious inmates' cells were run
as much to spook the rest of the inmates into exercising a little
prudence in what they had in their cells, as they were run to keep
contraband out
|2.16.07 @ 3:24PM|#
"That's why once, way back when William Bennett was the drug
czar, he responded like so to a caller on the Larry King show who
told him that he should "behead the damn drug dealers."
"I mean what the caller suggests is morally plausible," he said.
"Legally, it's difficult."
I wonder what old Bob thinks we should do with compulsive
gamblers?
JimmyDaG33k|2.16.07 @ 3:27PM|#
In reading some related articles, one of the reasons for
suspicion was "high traffic" in and out of the house.
I think I need to stop hosting poker games in which my friends
arrive when they please, leave when they please, and make various
runs to the liquor store as they please. My fiance also needs to
stop hosting those Princess House parties. I don't want them
kicking in my door at 3 in the morning...
|2.16.07 @ 3:31PM|#
JimmyDaG33k,
You may want to stop the poker games even if nobody enters or
leaves your house as the SWAT team may
raid you anyway.
Bob|2.16.07 @ 3:36PM|#
Bob's not torlling, he's being sarcastic. Judging from the
response, pretty effective I'd say.
Ja, Si, Yes
It just shows how easy the arguements for this can be defeated as
they are illogical.
JimmyDaGeek|2.16.07 @ 3:45PM|#
No fair, SWAT gets to have all the fun! They get to go around, mindlessly shooting innocent people, and then make up excuses such as, "that hero sandwich looked like a gun". Hook me up! Where do I sign up?
*|2.16.07 @ 3:56PM|#
You rock, Radley.
So, what do we do?
First of all, I second this comment. Secondly, although it's a very
small thing, you can start by getting a digg account (I imagine a
well read person like yourself already has one) and either submit
each of these stories to digg, or, if it has already been
submitted, digg it. Everyone on reason should be doing this for
every one of Radley's drug war posts. That way, these stories will
find a larger audience and hopefully raise the profile of stories
like these higher in the national consciousness. Again, it is a
small thing, but one which may get enough people angry about these
sort of occurrences, and also get enough people to realize that
they are not uncommon, that a majority or at least a larger
minority feel that it is time to really press for reform.
Right now the marginalization of those who want reform in police
tactics has much to do with old media's shameful record in
reporting these crimes. Raising awareness is a big piece of the
puzzle.
Thomas Paine\'s Goiter|2.16.07 @ 4:13PM|#
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/543752.html
*sniff*.
He can't get a job. He's shunned. It's awful.
|2.16.07 @ 4:17PM|#
Forget Power Rangers and TV Violence...
What a better example than the fine men and women of SWAT, at least
in this case.
I need to get on the ball and start making and marketing SWAT
action figures. I can picture it now, little Johnny pretending to
kick down a door, guns a-blazin'...shoot first, ask
questions...never.
M|2.16.07 @ 4:30PM|#
People in bear country put a carpet of nails on the ramps to
their cabins to keep hungry grizzlies from barging in. I think one
of those, strategically placed just inside the door...
Careful. Farmers have lost cases like this:
http://www.law.mq.edu.au/Units/law405/Study_Guide/Katko_v_Briney/katko_v_briney.htm
|2.16.07 @ 4:32PM|#
TPG,
That is an interesting article. You would think the guy would, I
don't know, feel guilty about shooting an unarmed person. He
doesn't seem to fazed by it. You wrongfully kill someone and all
you can say is "bummer I can't be a cop anymore". You would think
he would have more to say for himself and at least would express
some remorse or at least fake some for the media. Amazing.
|2.16.07 @ 4:41PM|#
in the earlier thread Creech suggested
"
Why can't the cops wait until the suspect leaves the house to go to
the movies or the grocery store, quietly surround him, etc? The
drug evidence will still be back at his home.
It is time to demonstrate and boycott towns and cities where this
nonsense goes on. No LP conventions any kind in Houston until
justice is served. Write their visitor's bureau and tell them
you've just cancelled plans to vacation in Houston.
"
I have always concured with this. In this situation it even makes
more sense because the house in question is at the end of a dead
end road. It is in Wharton TX and not Houston, the address
is:
1409 N Sunset St, Wharton, TX 77488
I put this together from the various articles here and on MAPINC.
Put the address into Google maps or earth and take a look. The
other thing you will see is that the kid was probable DOA, the
hospital is only a few blocks away.
SAS
Lazlo Nibble|2.16.07 @ 4:57PM|#
What's GBS?
It's no FYAD, that's for damn sure.
(A fact for which I'm eternally grateful.)
*|2.16.07 @ 5:11PM|#
No LP conventions any kind in Houston until justice is
served.
Please, don't throw me in that ol' brier patch.
- Houston
Write their visitor's bureau and tell them you've just
cancelled plans to vacation in Houston.
Houston knows that no one in their right mind would "vacation"
there. Now, Austin or San Antonio might be believable. Corpus
Christie even. But Houston...no chance.
|2.16.07 @ 5:11PM|#
TPG
I second John's comment, although it is possible the guy's attorney
is telling him not to express any regret lest it be taken as an
admission of responsibility and used against him in a civil
suit.
|2.16.07 @ 5:15PM|#
>Possession is vilolent crime? Against who?
Drug possession is a violent crime in the same way that "the male
gaze" is violence against women. Which is to say, drug possession
is not a violent crime.
v_lind7@yahoo.com|2.16.07 @ 5:19PM|#
>Using them makes people violent, only alcohol is acceptable
because it has a long history of safe use in western society.
OK, this statement makes me think that Bob must be using
sarcasm.
*|2.16.07 @ 5:50PM|#
BTW, another blog site I frequent, engadget, gives you the
option to Digg a story with a "Digg it" link directly in the blog
post itself. Reason might want to adopt a similar policy.
I know a lot of people here are against Digg, low signal to noise
and all that, but the people who read and post there are fairly
representative of those who need convincing on these issues (i.e.
drug policy reform and police tactics reform).
|2.16.07 @ 6:10PM|#
On the topic (from the previous Castillo thread) of counseling for the police officers -- this is small consolation, but I'm aware of research in the EMS field showing that "critical incident stress debriefing" doesn't help personnel cope better and may even make things worse. This is also true of certain types of post-traumatic counseling for rape victims. We can only hope the results are the same for the officers involved in this and similar cases.
|2.17.07 @ 3:26AM|#
"According to his sister, Castillo was shot just below the
eye..."
This might be irrelevant, but here goes:
I took the four day, defensive handgun class at Frontsight firearms
training academy in Nevada a year or so ago. It is fun and worth
the money, IMO. In that class, you are trained to shoot an attacker
only as a last resort, and you are trained to fire two well-aimed
rounds to the center of mass, i.e. the center of the chest. If, and
only if the attacker "fails to stop" after being wounded with those
two rounds to the center of mass do you fire a single, well-aimed
round to the "inter ocular cavity". A hit in this area is
"garanteed" to be instantly fatal. The final bit of training is
that you never do the headshot as a first resort or else it amounts
to assassination. This is standard training.
The fact that this kid was killed with a round to the inter-ocular
cavity might be irrelevant. For example, it certainly could be
argued by the police that it was a hazy, difficult situation and
the placement of the round was just bad luck, etc., but this is
just one more bit of damning evidence...
|2.17.07 @ 3:30AM|#
What Lincln thinks"
"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts
to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of
things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the
very principles upon which our government was founded." -- Abraham
Lincoln
Nobody Important|2.17.07 @ 8:07AM|#
wayne | February 17, 2007, 3:26am
"According to his sister, Castillo was shot just below the eye..."
...In that class, you are trained to shoot an attacker only as a last resort, and you are trained to fire two well-aimed rounds to the center of mass, i.e. the center of the chest. If, and only if the attacker "fails to stop" after being wounded with those two rounds to the center of mass do you fire a single, well-aimed round to the "inter ocular cavity". A hit in this area is "garanteed" to be instantly fatal. The final bit of training is that you never do the headshot as a first resort or else it amounts to assassination. This is standard training.
Nowhere is it written that the policies of any police department
must conform to the "standard training" doctrine taught at Front
Sight, or any other shooting school. Even if the Mozambique Drill is
widely known.
You were taught defensive shooting. The police in this
case were not the defenders, but conducting an offensive (in both
senses of the word) operation. They chose the time and
place to attack.
This doesn't stop cops from believing statements like "It was
Amadou Diallo who set the stage for tragedy."
|2.17.07 @ 9:08AM|#
"Nowhere is it written that the policies of any police
department must conform to the "standard training" doctrine taught
at Front Sight, or any other shooting school."
Maybe so, but we were taught that this was "standard" in general,
and furthermore many police departments send officers to FrontSight
for training. There were ten or twelve police officers in the class
(of 300) that I attended.
|2.17.07 @ 12:30PM|#
I don't know if it's related, but the Zarsky lumber yard in Wharton, about a block from the house where Castillo lived, burned down yesterday. Story in the Wharton Journal Spectator, www.journal-spectator.com.
Dave W.|2.17.07 @ 3:21PM|#
One question that comes up with police shooting is whether
police can shoot a fleeing suspect in the back. Or perhaps the
issue is better stated as: how danderous does the person have to be
before police get the privilege of shooting him in the back. It
looks like one of these cases has just come up in Detroit. Cop Talk
thread on it:
http://tinyurl.com/2jfzd5
|2.18.07 @ 12:18AM|#
"One question that comes up with police shooting is whether
police can shoot a fleeing suspect in the back."
I thought you were a lawyer? There is almost no circumstance where
police can shoot a suspect in the back.
Dave W.|2.18.07 @ 8:37AM|#
I thought you were a lawyer? There is almost no circumstance
where police can shoot a suspect in the back.
Constitutional law is not really my area of expertise. I think
there was a big case out of Tennessee in '74 where they shot a
fleeing suspect in the process of climbing a fence and SCOTUS
eventually said that that was a bad shoot. Don't remember the case
name. However, those were different times, legally speaking.
Really LEOs follow the new developments in this area of the law
better than I do. They seem to think that the standard is
"immediate threat to public safety" and that if the fleeing perp
has a gun, as the one in Detroit seems to have, then he is
automatically an immediate threat to public safety.
I find it a matter of concern that police personnel think that way,
but these are exactly the kind of troublesome discussions that got
me 86'd from Cop Talk.
Will be interesting to see if this case in Detroit goes
anywhere.
|2.18.07 @ 9:35AM|#
What they taught at FrontSight is that the only time it is
legitimate to shoot is if your own, or the life of another is at
risk.
The example you cite in Detroit might fulfill this requirement if
the LEO believed the fleeing perp was an imminent threat to the
life of another.
Dave W.|2.18.07 @ 9:43AM|#
The example you cite in Detroit might fulfill this
requirement if the LEO believed the fleeing perp was an imminent
threat to the life of another.
If that is what the shooter had to believe, then you better bet
that he will be questioned in a manner that ensures that that is
what he believed. It is easy to believe what you need to believe if
the belief is what is standing between you and the big house.
I think the theory is that if the perp had gotten away from the
scene of the brawl at the funeral home then he would have pulled
out the illegal gun again and started shooting people with it. He
was a "White Tee Shirt Boy" after all. That much we know. I am no
LEO, so who am I to say he wouldn't have? (they taught me well at
Cop Talk)
It is a pity that we don't know exactly how many lives were saved
by having the LEO executing the fleeing perp in this case. Two?
Tens? Hundreds? The mind boggles.
Kathy|2.18.07 @ 7:47PM|#
I am a family member of Daniel Castillo Jr. I have been
searching for days to see what the blogging community had to say
about this and was very disturbed that it HAD HARDLY BEEN ADDRESSED
ANYWHERE but in the local media. I am glad to see that there are
others out there that actually noticed, whatever your feelings are
on the subject.
I was raised in Wharton COunty and even worked at the police
station the summer before I left for college. The city government,
police department, and judicial system in this town have been
corrupt for years. You don't have to dig very far to find it. Its
just a good ol' boy society and they all cover for each other. The
town is racially divided. I never knew what "normal" society was
like until I left that town.
The entire family is afraid that people are going to see this as
"oh well, just one less young hispanic male for us to deal with."
They've got the wrong family this time. They will not come into our
homes and kill our children and then move on with their lives. As
long as we have no justice, we will always be there to remind them
that an innocent young life was taken. They didn't even give him a
chance to be tried and convicted of anything. That lone cop was the
judge, jury and executioner. They shot him as he stood next to his
sister who was holding her 1 year old baby. They hauled his mother
away in handcuffs as she struggled to get to her son. They refused
to even let her contact his father at work to let him know that his
son had been shot. His 14 year old brother got reasonably upset and
demanded to see the warrant. They arrested him for "interfering
with a police investigation" and hauled him off to juvie. To this
day, the only reason they even got a hint of what was in the
warrant was becasue the media was able to get it before them.
When word spread that Danny had been shot, the police blocked off
the ER at the local hospital and kept everyone out. (Its a very
small town and word spreads fast.) He died after he had been flown
to a larger hospital in a city about an hours drive away.
All this happened BEFORE they ever found a stem or seed in that
house, or on the property surrounding it. It is still up in the air
where the drugs were actually found. The neighborhood is a dead
end, but with the houses in close proximity to each other and
trailers in between. They searched areas that weren't actually
covered by the warrant.
No representative from the police department, DA's office or
Sherriff's Depaertment has spoken to the family. The police
department and DA's office have clammed up and are not commenting
to the media...anymore. They had made a couple of comments, but it
was very obvious from the information that has been brought out
since then, that they were misinformed and were speaking without
any facts to back their statements up.
These are the facts.
Daniel Castillo Jr. age 17 was shot in the face (once under the
right eye) by a police officer dressed in full tactical gear only
moments after he was awaken by his sisters pleas. He later died
from his injuries. He had no criminal record. No other adults
INSIDE THE HOUSE were arrested as result of this raid. His juvenile
brother was arrested after demanding to see the search warrant. He
was released that same night.
The family just wants to know why. Why did they do this? Was it an
accident? Was he spooked by something? Just give us some sort of
reason. Its all so senseless. Junior is dead. He will never
graduate high school, he will never get married or have children.
All beacsue some informant told them that a "David Castillo" was
dealing drugs out of the house and the police believed him. Had
anyone ever just gone to the house and knocked on the door, they
would have discovered that there was NO David Castillo at that
residence. There was a mother, father, their children and two
grandchildren. Why didn't someone do that? WHY?
I guess we will know when the Wharton PD and DA's office feel good
and ready to tell us. Or at least not until they can get their
story straight.
Too late though, they already look like a bunch of bumbling
jacka$$es.
The truth will be revealed, but I doubt anyone will be
punished...except Danny Jr. and the family of course.
Kathy|2.18.07 @ 7:53PM|#
Oh yeah, forgot to mention. This is the same town where in the
past year no charges were filed on an officer who shot a fleeing
illegal alien IN THE BACK. He got away with it, still works for the
police department. Said his life was in danger. WHAT?!?!? He was
running AWAY in an open field - after a traffic stop. The fat A$$
cop just didn't want to chase him down.
Unfortunately, because of his legal status, that man will never get
justice. It wasn't even noted in the media outside of
Wharton.
This is why I don't belive anything will happen to the cop. There
is no grand jury in Wharton that will convict a police officer of
shooting a minority. Plain and simple.
|2.19.07 @ 12:39AM|#
Cathy, one of your family has to kill the motherfucker that murdered your cousin...an I.E.D. or a scope, whatever. Not for honour, not for revenge, but rather, for the future, well, a POSSIBLE future where pigs hesitate to gun down unarmed teens. Ooops, I didn't really mean that, of course, heavens forbid one advocating blowback against a murderer...NO OFFICER< DON"T SHOOT< I'M UNAR
Kathy|2.19.07 @ 5:09AM|#
GreginOZ-
Believe it or not, they are having a HARD time holding the other
young male family members back from seeking revenge. Someone has
already set two fires. Business are locking their doors and only
letting people in when they feel "safe." They shoot us like dogs in
our homes. They just want for us to prove to the world that we are
the animals they treat us like. Unfortunately, that means we have
to sit back and do things the "right" way. We have to sit back and
depend on the system that has failed us in the past to actually
give us justice this time.
Wayne-
Thanks for the thoughts. If it wasn't our family it would be
another one. This isn't the first time something like this has
happened there, but hopefully it will be the last.
|2.19.07 @ 9:57AM|#
I saw a TV show at Frontsight the other day. It pitted two
civilians against two LEO folks in a tactical shooting match.
Long story short in the 1st round a Kindergarden School
Administrator outshot a SWAT team member with a 12 gauge slug gun.
The object was to load a single round after hearing the buzzer and
shooting the target. Now when a Kindergarden admin can outshoot a
SWAT guy that scares me. I must say though the SWAT guy was faster
to load and pull the trigger then the civilian but to what end if
he missed the target.
Coming soon to a no-knock RAID near you!
|2.19.07 @ 10:29AM|#
Dee,
"Now when a Kindergarden admin can outshoot a SWAT guy that scares
me."
It shouldn't scare you. Shooting is a learned skill, and most cops
shoot the bare minimum to stay qualified. SWAT members would be
expected to be better. The best shooter in the class (of 300) when
I attended was a podiatrist. He looked like the barber on the old
"Andy of Mayberry" show. He could shoot groups of five rounds from
7 meters from his Glock 22 (.40 caliber) that left no paper showing
between holes. None of the top shooters at the Front Sight class I
attended were cops. The bottom line though is that every student
there, even the worst shooters, would be quite deadly in a
gunfight.
|2.19.07 @ 11:16AM|#
Exactly. Just as we've been saying, another
marijuana-related death.
LOL! I loved that bit.
"Authorities did not belive her story about the x-police..."
|2.21.07 @ 4:21PM|#
I too am from Wharton and my husband is a cousin to Jr. and
today I read that now they are saying that Dannie had a knife.
Truthfully I knew something like that would happen. And as for
Wharton letting the state troopers take over, PLEASE!.... I heard
from a reporter that the trooper in charge is from Bay City... if
your were from Wharton than you would not find it hard to
understand how Wharton, El Campo, and Bay City officials have the
same interest at heart. Someone commented to Kathy that the officer
needs to be killed... In Wharton, that's the kind of feeling "peace
officers" put into people all the time! The only thing is, If we
kill, We will be prosecuted ….and that's exactly what they
want.
There was a protest that went on all day, the day before the
funeral. A lot of people are upset with the way some others have
been acting… getting mad saying evil things against the police…
cursing aloud and in public. Most people just don't know how to
react, like the fires and other things. Lots of people think
violence is an answer and lots think we can do better. But we don't
know how to fight this kind of battle and that's why other things
take place; but for the most we all know what we're dealing with
straight from hell corrupt cops. And as much as I'm against
violence… I can't help but to find myself thinking - sometimes
violence is the answer…. Like Rodney King . The world witnessed how
the verdict changed when the Black community reacted with violence.
Have you ever heard the saying you have to respond to violence with
violence to get a reaction.
And one thing I have to say before I go. Daniel Castillo Jr. was no
drug dealer! He enlisted into the ARMY and on the day he was killed
his mom and dad were supposed to take him to test with his
recruiter. You know, not too many young Hispanics form this
community make it out of Wharton and neither did this one. What
happened in this event of misfortune, is exactly why I left Wharton
and why I'm fearful to just drive down their streets. Because there
the streets weren't made for the people but for the Officials and
pigs of the community.
Kathy|2.22.07 @ 9:16AM|#
Mary Louise-
Outside intervention is EXACTLY what Wharton needs. I get panic
attacks EVERY time I go home to visit. I promised myself I would
NEVER raise my family there. There is nothing for us there.
Minorities are not equals in that community. Those who remain are
doomed to a life of poverty. The only way out is to LEAVE. It
shouldn't be that way. We couldn't save Danny, but now I feel an
obligation to help save the rest. What can we do? I don;t know the
answer, but I will go to my deathbed making sure it will never
happen again.
They had extra police presence this past weekend to make sure the
city was safe. Safe from who? All the angry law abiding taxpaying
citizens? Oh no, wait. They want to protect themselves from the
brown skinned dark haired ones. We aren't the ones with the guns,
they are! Who is going to protect us from THEM? I guess WE don't
count.
Also, do you like how the DA is showing what an ignorant SOB he is?
Calling the ACLU a "hate group" and the protests and vigils "gang
activity?" This is the man that is supposed to represent US - the
people? If we allow these people to continue to stay in office, we
are saying their obvious bias is OK. Time to clean up that place.
Makes me feel guilty for ever leaving. I would be able to do more
if I had stayed.
|2.26.07 @ 11:33AM|#
I am so glad that you guys are putting this out there. I am the
cousin of Daniels mother therefore I am his second cousin. I see
him daily. I just want to inform you guys of a few ommitted details
that the media is afraid for some reason or another to release. We(
the family) have provided proof that Don Falks (the officer who
killed Daniel)has a son who is a big time cocaine addict and after
attempts at rehab he is still struggling. He has been stopped by
Wharton PD with a controlled substance. Note! There was not a bond
set next to his name in the police blotter. Why would we have an
officer on a drug task force fighting the war on drugs when he is
loosing it in his own family. Would this create some sort of
vendetta? In addition, the latest news is the DA, Josh McCown
decided to release that my cousin had a lock blade knife. In
Saturdays Wharton Journal Spectator he states that when Don Falks
went into the room he was punched by my cousin and there was a
struggle. He stated that my cousin reached for something "black" by
his waistband that he thought was a gun so he shot him and then
later a closed pocket knife was found in the vicinity of the body.
He decided to release this information after on Wednesday we held a
town meeting and invited the D.A., Mayor and chief of Police to
address the communities concerns. The meeting was held at a church
in which we filled with limited standing room only and people still
outside. Not one city official came to our meeting! This is an
injustice! These are people who we elected and they can't even give
us the courtesy of showing up for the people.
On another note, they found drugs in the truck but it was not
seized. What is up with that? All they are doing is trying to buy
time to get their story straight. We have not given up!
|3.2.07 @ 12:13PM|#
i am the ex-girl friend of danny castillo. and i honetly think all that the cops and the news are saying is complete bull shit he is not a drug dealer 4 all u people that think he is! he does need justice...and he will get it! TERMINATOR will pay for what he has done! he was a good guy and never did anthing to deserve this!! i know him very well! he was also my best friend! R.I.P JUNIOR! i love ya sissy!!! --AMANDA
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